Sri Lanka's Hidden Gems: 15 Places Most Tourists Miss

Most visitors follow the same route: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella and the south coast. It's a great route — but Sri Lanka is full of extraordinary places that see only a handful of foreign visitors. Here are fifteen of the best.

In the mountains

1. Meemure

A remote village deep in the Knuckles Range, reached by a winding road and surrounded by forest, paddy fields and waterfalls. Stay in a homestay and hike to Lakegala peak. Meemure.

2. Riverston

A windswept pass in the Knuckles Range with grasslands, cloud forest, the Pitawala Pathana plain and the Mini World's End viewpoint — like Horton Plains without the crowds. Riverston.

3. Bambarakanda Falls

Sri Lanka's tallest waterfall, a ribbon of water dropping around 263 metres through pine forest. See our waterfalls guide. Bambarakanda Falls.

Ancient and sacred sites

4. Ritigala Forest Monastery

Ruined meditation platforms and stone paths of an ancient monastery hidden in thick jungle on a mountain near Habarana. Atmospheric and almost always empty. Ritigala.

5. Mulkirigala Rock Temple

A series of cave temples with reclining Buddhas and murals, climbed by stone staircases up a rock near Tangalle. A great alternative to Dambulla. Mulkirigala.

6. Yapahuwa

A 13th-century rock fortress with a magnificent ornamental staircase and fine stone lions, once home to the Sacred Tooth Relic. Yapahuwa.

7. Nalanda Gedige

A small, beautifully restored temple in the centre of the island blending Hindu and Buddhist architecture. Easy to visit between Kandy and Dambulla. Nalanda Gedige.

8. Aukana Buddha

A 12-metre standing Buddha carved from a rock face, probably in the 5th century, near the Kala Wewa reservoir. Aukana.

Wild places

9. Kumana National Park

On the south-east coast near Arugam Bay, Kumana is far quieter than neighbouring Yala, with superb birdlife, elephants and the occasional leopard. Kumana.

10. Gal Oya National Park

Take a boat safari on a huge reservoir and you may see elephants swimming between islands. Also offers guided walks with members of the local Vedda community. Gal Oya.

11. Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary

A cluster of ancient irrigation tanks on the north-west coast, alive with waterbirds. Anawilundawa.

Islands and the far north

12. Delft Island

A wild island off Jaffna with wild ponies, coral-stone walls, a Dutch fort ruin and a giant baobab tree. Delft Island.

13. Mannar Island

A dry, flat island with flamingos (in winter), a Dutch fort, ancient baobab trees and views towards India across Adam's Bridge. Mannar.

Coast

14. Kalkudah

Next to the resort strip of Pasikudah, Kalkudah's long beach is wild, quiet and lined with palms — best May to September. Kalkudah.

15. Hummanaya Blowhole

Near Dickwella on the south coast, sea water shoots high into the air through a rock fissure — most spectacular in rough seas around June and July. Hummanaya.

Tips for going off the beaten path

• Hire a driver or local guide — public transport to many of these places is limited. See our driver guide.
• Download offline maps — mobile coverage can be patchy. See our SIM card guide.
• Carry cash — ATMs are scarce in rural areas.
• Respect local communities — dress modestly and ask before taking photos. See our responsible travel guide.
• Check access — roads to places such as Meemure and ferries to Delft can be affected by weather.